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Rating: What would life be without the small daily surprises?
One of these for me was the discovery of this Curved Air album that, even though I knew and loved the band, I had never considered, especially knowing it was the result of a posthumous reunion of the original band (with Khon replacing Eyre) made in '74 to settle accounts with the English tax authorities with Stewart Copeland already eagerly waiting in the wings (he was the manager of that tour). And yet here is one of the best live albums I have ever heard, in which the band’s classics are reinterpreted with grit, transport, passion, and always with impeccable technical skill.
Especially a Sonia Kristina in a state of grace brings to life the spirit of Joplin in tracks like "It Happened Today", "Back Street Luv", and "Maria Antoinette", the latter with that genius Monkman even more in the spotlight than in the studio version. But the real climax, in my opinion, is reached with the aggressive "Propositions" introduced by Kristina's feral scream: a grand tribute to the Riley-like iterative structures (to whose "Rainbow in Curved Air" the band owes its name) reproduced by the VCS3 synthesizer and the echo effect applied to Monkman’s guitar and Way’s violin. Blessed be the English tax authorities for allowing Curved Air to record this most worthy live epitaph.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 It Happened Today (05:33)
Yesterday you know it never really happened
Tomorrow you know it never really had
You, you're only what you think you might be
I am only what you think I am
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
I know that you're afraid of what might happen
Uncertain what to give and what to take
Already you've forgotten why you came here
I can see exactly why you came
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
What I was I find it hard to be now
Now I am and very soon you'll feel
You keep tellin' me the time is tellin'
I tell you the time will tell in time
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
It happened today
Today
02 Marie Antoinette (06:51)
Marie Antoinette, your name's a legend in this land
Treasure for your pleasure, bestowed on favoured gentlemen
The people are in arms, marching on the town
They rise chanting "Revolution! Viva la Nation!"
Marie Antoinette, your shadow's falling along the land
Anger born of hunger poisons the hearts of your loyal men
Fire in their eyes, steel in their hands
They rise chanting "Revolution! Viva la Nation!"
Clamouring in the square, the rabble have gone insane
They're over the balustrades, defying the cannon fire
They're into the garrison, they murder the noblemen
Marie Antoinette, Marie Antoinette
"We are the people of France we demand that the
Elegant blue-blooded leeches that bleed us
Are taught what it means to grow fat and not feed us!
We are the people of France, you must heed us!"
Already at the Bastille, the prisoners all run free
They're hammering on the door, Marie Antoinette
They've taken the guillotine, they're coming to take the Queen
Marie Antoinette, the King and the guards have fled
Marie Antoinette, your shadow's falling along the land
Anger born of hunger, poisoned your men
They rise chanting "Revolution! Viva la Nation!"
07 Everdance (06:02)
(Monkman)
One day walking down the dusty street
Two friends travel us with weary feet
But they'll let you sleep the rood a while
Time now and drink and dance away the miles
See what will come on to tell the stars
Come with me and love let you string together
Stay with me I feel like to dance forever
Fret her do not tarry come away
This house curse a disc browse to stay
Things are not what they appear to be
If now you desire it look and see
Fortune ruins those who turn the key
Come with me and let's gain' away together
Stay with me or go to a devil
and dance forever
Ten years now across the playful day
One friend lonesomes winter's free'd away
One friend wants to ask fortunes hunt to set
Try bones legs till he dances yet
Pounding feet from which no blood has left
Come with me and let's us goin'
away together
Stay with me or go to a devil
and dance forever
ha11oga11o
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